Supporting apparatus



Jan. 19, 1954 c. E. HOLM v2,666,608

SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 18. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'llllgnrrlllli c. E. HOLM SUPPORTING APPARATUS Jan. 19, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1a, 1947 BR, NNN NW tionand claixiS" and Pl. Lsupp@ning apparatus Patented Jan. 19,V 1954 f r STATE-sf PATENT OFFICE oai-1 E. Ho1m;-l`3`efwyh, nl.,` assignor to victor E; Kossian, Berwyn, Ill.

pp'cationiiovemer 1s, 1947', serial Nn. 786,639

(onus-e163) invention relates tosupportigl' apparatus. 'll/lione particularly,v this intention relates t supporting' apparatus which may be adapted fofrfu's'e in and as an interior' or` l eXterirsc'afEOld painters, decorators and. like workmen, andthe like,v and for use,- in one form thereof, asv a step ladder'.

An object of the present invention is top'rovide a new andi improved supporting apparatus ofthe character hereinafterdescribed and whichmay be readily adjusted for' use in and as an interior or' exterior supporting scaffold for use by painters, decorators, andthe like.V and for use', in one form thereof, as a step ladder.- i Y ,An additional object of the invention is to, providev inthe new supporting appara-tus a novel supporting unit'wh'ich may be readily adjusted -fr and adapted to the various uses thereof. as

hereinafter indicated'.Y

Another object'of` theinve'ntionis to providevmin .thenew Supporting apparatus al novel means for 'enabling a` lower'end portiorf of the newsupporting means to yleldablyv grip a horizontal support- .ing surface on which'- the new supporting apparat'usf may be rested. 1

A further' object? of-the invention is to Aprovide in the new supporting apparatus ai 'novel means fr'enablngf the uppe' and generally horizontally extending supporting ar'm'sr` of the main supporting unit which i-'s embodied in' the'new supporting apparatus Vto grip a'r vertically' extending supportsurface,` such interior or exterior wall,

against which the new' supporting-apparatus? may be restedl vOther and further objects of the` present invention willbe appa-rent from the following descrip.- e illustrated in theaccom'- by way ofillustration,

nnentsl and principles panying drawings' wh thereof and what: Iknow" consider to' b`e the best 11' newY illustrating one "apparat-us asI adapted f for4 use* as 'an intel,"ior'` or exterior'ls'cahfoldi sup- Fig 2v isA a' top Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail' view illustrating parts of the apparatus embodied in the formv of the new scaffold supporting apparatus illustrated in Fig; 1

Fig. 4 isv a fragmentary View partly in section andl partly in elevation, illustrating the lower end portion and supporting foot or caster therefor embodied in the form of the invention illustrated I'l Fig. I;

Fig 5 is an fragmentary sectional view illust'rating apreferred form of one of the yieldable supporting feet4 or caster units which are embodied in the new' supporting apparatus for yieldably gripping a` horizontal supporting surface on which the supporting apparatus shown in' Fig; 1 may be rested; y

Fig. 61 is an elevational view illustrating another form of the invention adapted for' use asv ar household ladder;

g Fig. 7 is an end elevational view as seen from theileftA in'v Fig. 6; Y

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary' view illustrating apart of the form of the"inventionl illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7; Fig. 9 isa sectional Fig. 8; an'dl Fig. v0 is a transversev sectional view on line plan View on line .9;9 in

Av typical embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. l to 5, inclusive, and comlprises a scaffold support',- generally indicated at 2 5, and which includes al supporting unit fiy on which' one endof'a plank 21 isrnounted, Fig. 1-. It will be'understood that the other end of the plank will be supported on another supporting unit, not

429. EachA o'f the upwardlyv extendingmain body portions 28' includes a pair of tubular-metal legs B which may be made of any suitable light rnetal such as an aluminum alloy, interconnected by a Aseries' of vertically spaced braces or' rung's 3l f integrally connected thereto in any A'suitable nfian'rier, asl by welding'. Each'- of the lower and rnain'loody portions 2 8- als"o includes'a lowersupporting legportion- 32g which may be `niade of anysuitable type of solid or tubular metal, and

' each ofA theselower supporting leg portions 32 is telescopically inserted' into the correspondingone ofthe" upper leg sections30.

Anouar. 33: is Weldedfto the lowerl end portion v aeeacos of each of the upper tubular leg sections 39 and a manually operable set screw 34 is adjustably mounted in each of the collars 33 so that its inner end portion may bear against the lower end portion of each of the upper leg sections 33 and thus hold the two telescopically interconnected leg sections 30 and 32 in the desired adjusted position relative to each other and at the desired eiective heighth.

As shown in Fig. 5, each of the lower and inner leg sections 32 has a caster unit 35 attached thereto and each of these caster units35 includes a rubber or like yieldable gripping member 36 having a socket 31 formed in its upper surface. A resilient pad 36 is mounted in the socket 31 and a hemispherical metal rest 39 is attached to andY anchored in the rubber insert 38. The lower end or bottom edge 49a of member 32 rests upon the upper surface of the hemispherical metal member 39.

A yieldable metallic attaching member 40 has its lower end portion 4l anchored in the resilient or rubber member 38 and this attaching member 40a includes a pair of resilient or spring jaws 42 which extend upwardly7 into a socket 43 which is provided in the lower end portion of each lower leg section 32, Fig. 5.

The generally horizontal upper section 29 of each of the supporting units 26 includes a pair of converging arms 44 which are formed as integral extensions of the leg sections 39 and a tubular metal sleeve 45 is welded between these upper tubular arms 44, Fig. 2. The upper section 29 of each supporting unit 26 also includes a tubular member 46 which is telescopically inserted into the tubular sleeve 45; Each of the tubular arms or sections 46 has a yieldable gripping unit 41 attached thereto, at the outer end thereof in a manner which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. Each of these gripping units 41 comprises a body or block 69 of yieldable material, such as rubber, at which a threaded stud 50 is attached.

The inner end portion of each tubular section 46 is engaged with a stop pin or abutment 5l, carried by the tubular sleeve 45. As shown in Fig. 1, the pin 5l extends upwardly above the tubular sleeve 45 and provides a stop for holding the plank or like support against lateral shifting movement when the new scaffold supporting apparatus is in assembled position.

A brace 54 extends between each of the upper leg sections and the tubular sleeve 45 and its end portions are welded thereto.

When the new scaffold supporting apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is in use the lower end edges 40 of the lower leg sections 32 have a limited rocking movement upon the upper surfaces of the hemispherical metal members 39, the caster units 35 being of the rocking or ball and socket type, so as to enable the new scaffold supporting apparatus to be accommodated to irregularities in the horizontal surface in which it is arranged.

The caster units lower leg sections 35 may be detached from the 32 by pulling downwardly thereon so as to urge the yieldable spring jaws 42 together whereupon the spring jaws 42 may be slipped out of the socket 43 which is arranged in the lower end portion of each lower leg section 32 (Fig. 5).

The invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. includes an additional and auxiliary vertically extending supporting unit, which is generally indicated at 55, and one of which is.

the lower and innerileg.

. 4 associated with each of the main supporting units 26.

The auxiliary supporting unit 55 includes a vertically extending tubular upper metal section 56 having a collar 51 secured to the lower end portion thereof. The additional and auxiliary supporting unit 55 also includes a lower rodlike metal section 58 whichA is telescopically inserted into .the corresponding 'tubular upper metal section 56, and a manually operable set screw 59 is mounted in the collar 51 so as to clamp the upper and lower leg sections 56 and 58 together at the desired adjusted vertical heighth.

A resilient gripping foot for caster 69 is attached to the lower and inner leg member 58 by means of a threaded stud 6l which is threaded into a threaded socket 62 formed in the lower end portion of the lower and inner leg member 58.

The auxiliary supporting unit 55, which is embodied in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, comprises a T-shaped connecting unit, which is generally indicated at 63, and which includes a horizontally extending arm 64 having an end portion of the tubular arm 46 detachably connected thereto, as by a pin 65, a vertically extending depending arm 66 having the upper end portion of the upper tubular leg section 56 detachably attached thereto, as by a manually operable set screw 51, and a second horizontally extendingv internally threaded arm 68 to which the body 69 of the resilient gripping unit 41 is detachably attached by the threaded stud or shank 5|), (Fig. 3),.

The use and operation of the form of the invention shown in Figs; 1 to 5, inclusive, are as follows: The lower leg sections 58 of the auxiliary supporting unit 55 may be inserted in the tubular upper leg sections 56 and adjusted to the desired height by means of the set screws 59. Similarly, the lowerY leg sections 32 of each of the main supporting units 26 may be inserted intoV one of the upper tubular leg sections 33 and adjusted to the desired height by means of one of the set screws 34. The T connecting unit 63 may be attached to the end portions of the parts 46 andV 56'and clamped thereto by means of the'set screws 65 and 61, and the gripping unit 41 threaded into the horizontally extending arm 68 of the` T connection 63. rlhe supporting apparatus'thus assembled may then be arranged in upright position, adjacent a vertical wall surface 53, with the bodies 69 of the yieldable gripping units 41a gripping the vertical wall surface 53a. A suitable horizontal support 21, Fig. 1, may then be laid across the horizontally extending arms 46 in abutting relationship with the upwardly extending pins 51 whereupon the new scaffold supporting apparatus, shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, will provide an effective scaffold support for interior or exterior use by painters, and decorators, or for other uses. During such usage lthe Vauxiliary supporting units 55 provide additional support for a horizontal plank and the workman or workmen thereon, over and above the support provided by the supporting units 26.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, and those'parts thereof which are similar, to corresponding parts shown in any of Figs. l. to'5, inclusiva-and which have been previously described have been given the same reference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishedjreference character 12.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 1o. meusive. disastro@ theother forms of the inventidn, previously described, in thatgit- Ais especially adapted for use as 'a household orstep `tubular, metal leg 88 having an offset portion 8! `between its upper vand Ylower ends so as to -pro- Vide for additional stability in the step ladder thus formed. l f

The upper end portion 82 ofA the supporting leg 8l)v has a pin 33 extending downwardly thereinto and this pin 83 and the upper end'.y portion of this pin 83 extends into a recess or socket 84 provided in a supporting member which is in the Vform of a substantially square platform 27d which' is mounted'upon the upper end portions 44d ,of the supporting unit 26d. The pin 83 is attached to the supporting member or platform 21d by a fastening element in the form of a screw 85 which is countersunk in the platform Zd asshowninFig. 8. y

The-upper end portion 82 Aof the supporting leg 8D has a laterally extending arm B which projects into the sleeve 45d which isl arranged between and is welded to, the adjacent but spaced arms @4d which are employed in the upper end portion 28d of the supporting units 26d. The tubular arm 86 has a bayonet slot 81 formed therein and this bayonet s1ot'8l is engageable with a stop pin or abutment 5ml which is anchored in the tubular sleeve 45d and has its upper Yend portion projecting into an opening 88 in the platform 2id, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.]

The vertically extending supporting leg B has a bifurcated lower end portion 89 which provides a pair ofA spaced vertically extending tubular legs 98 and each of the lower leg portions 58a is adapted to extend into the lower end portion of one of the tubular legs 9i) and to be releasably and adjustably clamped thereto by a set screw 59d ymounted in a collar 51d which is mounted on the lower end portion of each of the tubular legs 98. A gripping unit or caster 68d, similar tothe casters unit -i-BZ, as shown in Fig. 3, may

laddr'wl'iicli `may be-gused iii a ro'onr'of a'residence or -other' building, andin like places', wherever a step ladder may be Aused. f,

It will also be noted,l in this fconnection, that when the form of theV invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, 'is thus assembled the horizontal rungs 3 l d of the main supporting unit 26d provide steps by means of which the user of the supporting apparatus may climb up to and down from the horizontal supporting member or platform 21d.

be mounted upon the lower end portion of each of the lower leg sections of 58d which are embodied in the supporting unit 19, as shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive. Y

In the use of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to l0, inclusive, the' main supporting unit -V 26d may be arranged in spaced but coextensive relationship so that the supporting member or Y. platform 2id may be 'extended vbetween and rested upon the tubular'sleeves 45d.

' The lower'leg sections 58d maybe inserted into Y the tubular lowerleg sections 98 of the supporting unit 'i9 and clamped thereto,.at the proper advjusted height, by means of the set screws 59d,

whereupon the tubular arm 86 of the supporting unit 19 may be connected to the main supporting unit 26d at the connection between the pin Eid and bayonet slot 81, Fig. 9. y The assembly of the parts embodied in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, may then be completed by attaching the pin 83 to the platform 21d, by means of the screw 85, and thenV lowering the platform 27d into position upon the tubular sleeves 45d so that the pin 5 lol enters into the opening 88 in the supporting member or platform 21d.

When the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, is thus assembled it provides a simple and inexpensive household step It will thus be's'een from thev foregoing descriptionconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention has the desirable advantages and characteristics, and va oconfiplishes its intended objects, including those hereinloeforepointed, out andY others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

l. A supporting unit comprising a pair of spaced tubular upright leg members having formed integral therewith generally horizontally extending andconverging tubular metal upper end portions, a generally horizontally extending tubular metal sleeve arrangedbetween and attached to said generally horizontally extending and converging tubular upper end portions of said Vleg members in substantially parallel extending relation thereto'for detachably supporting a generally horizontally extendingsupporting element therein, `and an auxiliaryV vertically extending supporting member including a substantially vertically extending supporting leg member projecting below said sleeve, said auxiliaryr supporting member including connecting means for detachably connecting said substantially vertically extending supporting' leg member to said tubular sleeve.

2.'A supporting unit comprising a pair of 'spaced tubular upright leg members having Y tically extending supporting leg member projecting below said sleeve, said auxiliary supporting f memberincluding connecting means for detachably'connecting said substantially vertically extending supporting leg member to said tubular sleeve, said auxiliary supporting member including a resilient gripping member attached to and carried by said connecting means for yieldably gripping a vertically extending Wall surface.

,3., A supporting unit comprising a pair of spaced tubular Vupright leg members having formed integral therewith generally horizontally extending and converging tubular metal upper end portions, and a generally horizontally extending tubular metalsleeve arranged between and attached to said generally horizontally extending t and converging tubular upper end portions of said leg members in substantially parallel extending relation thereto for detachably supporting a generally horizontally extending supporting element therein, and an auxiliary vertically extending supporting member including a substantially vertically extending supporting leg member projecting below said sleeve, said auxiliary supporting member including a g' nerally Ty-sha'ped connection for detachably connecting said substantially vertically extending supporting leg member to said tubular sleeve, said auxiliary supporting member including a'resilient gripping member attached to and carried by said generally T- shaped connection for yieldably gripping a vertically extendng wall surface.

CARL E. HOLM.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McFadden July 4, 1916 Shaud Dec. 16, 1919 King May 9, 1905 15 Number Number Name Date I Schneider Apr. 29, 1930 Eberle Nov. 13, 1934 Bensleylet al. May 18, 1937 Castelli Aug. 25, 1942 Degler Aug. 3, 1943 Smith May 22, 1945 Thorne Apr. 16, 1946 Fowler Oct. 15, 1946 Pohrman Mar. 4, 1947 Mahaffey Nov. 11, 1947 Pease May 4, 1948 Anderson Sept. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS vCountry Date Great Britain of 1934 

